Grangemouth refinery owner INEOS has called on the UK Government to make it a criminal offence for trade unions to “use intimidation and bullying tactics against individuals”.

The world's fourth largest chemicals company, which had threatened to close Grangemouth permanently unless its staff accepted new salary and pension terms, has outlined in its submission to the Carr Review outlining 10 “serious failings in existing UK industrial law and proposes changes to the legislation”.

The Carr Review, headed by Bruce Carr QC, is an independent review launched by the UK Government looking at the laws governing industrial disputes.

INEOS has highlighted in its submission to the Carr Review legal issues surrounding Unite The Union’s use of what it calls “leverage tactics”.

Those “leverage” tactics are reported to have included union activists being sent to the homes of INEOS staff.

INEOS, which also secured millions in Government subsidies as part of its deal to secure the future of Grangemouth, said the unions use of leverage tactics last autumn “almost forced the site to close with the loss of many thousands of jobs”.

“The Carr review will establish if these tactics were lawful and / or if the law needs to be changed to make them unlawful,” the company added.

INEOS chairman, Jim Ratcliffe, said: “We cannot tolerate the thuggish intimidation of managers, suppliers and customers by out of control unions.

“Last year, one of UK’s largest industrial sites nearly closed down because of reckless union actions.”

INEOS ha listed a number of “flaws” in the current trade union legislation, and is recommending in its submission companies are given the “legal right to communicate with their employees”, which it says is already done in France, Germany and the USA.

The company is also calling for “unlimited civil liability for damages resulting from unlawful union actions that target individuals, suppliers and customers”, and new laws to extend the notice perios for strike action from seven to 21 days, “to limit the safety risks associated with unplanned shutdowns for large manufacturing plants like Grangemouth”.

Ratcliffe added: “We work with unions across the world. All we are asking is that UK unions accept they have a duty to behave in a proper and responsible way.”

A Unite spokesman said:"We are extremely disappointed that while we strive hard to rebuild relationships at Grangemouth, the CEO of Ineos is engaging in what is little more than a political stunt led by a lawyer with a track record of anti-worker cases.

"Even the employers' body the CBI has stayed clear of this so-called inquiry.

“Further, what Mr Ratcliffe proposes falls outside of the scope of the Carr Inquiry so it is difficult to understand what he is seeking to achieve.

“Trade unions, as polls regularly find, are regarded by the public as a force for good.

“In these times of job insecurity, we a regarded as the best defence working people can have.

“We would urge Mr Ratcliffe to take a more enlightened view and support us in developing positive workforce relations.”

INEOS had last year presented workers with a “survival plan” which included a demand for grants and guarantees from the Scottish and UK Government's totalling £125 million to help fund construction of a new ethane gas terminal.

In return, INEOS said it would invest £300 million in the new gas terminal, which would then allow the plant to use cheaper shale gas exported from the United States.

Workers were also asked to accept a wage freeze and reduced pension terms as part of the survival plan, which if not met the company had warned it would close Grangemouth permanently.

The union Unite had described INEOS' threat to appoint liquidators, which would have seen more than 1,300 people lose their jobs, as a “sign or be sacked” ultimatum.